The original essentials for runners - a pair of sneakers and a digital watch - have been left in the dust by recent technology.

Using high-tech gadgets and equipment, runners in the Boston Marathon tomorrow can be seen simultaneously running to music, tracking their pace with temporary tattoos and gulping down a small snack during the trek from Hopkinton to Boston.

Mario Fraioli, store manager of PR Running in Westborough, said both novice and veteran runners are using modern technology to enhance their performance.

"Among the new marathoners, who don't really know what they're getting into, these things are almost essentials," he said. "More experienced marathoners, who have had trouble in the past, are experimenting a little bit more and finding it does make a difference."

Locals participating in this year's Marathon say they sometimes use sophisticated devices, but also prefer basic gear.

Milford resident Peter Scandone, who has run six marathons, trains without what most runners consider an essential: an iPod.

"I don't like the wires dangling around," said Scandone, who is 60.

Runners annoyed by ear buds and long wires can solve the problem with the newest wireless headpieces called iMuffs.

The device, which comes in either black or white, operates on Bluetooth, meaning the music can be transmitted without wires. An adapter plugs into an iPod. The wraparound headphones also have controls on the earpiece.

The headphones, listed on www.wi-gear.com, cost $129.99.

Many runners, such as Kathryn Bett of Upton, wear a basic watch to track time.

With new technology, a watch can do much more than display hours and minutes.

Popular GPS units, most commonly found in wristwatches made by Garmin, are a new craze among runners, said Fraioli.

"It picks up satellite signals and gives you an accurate report of how far you've run, at what pace. You can plug in settings to show how many calories burned," he said. "It's a wealth of information."

The data can be wirelessly downloaded to a computer after a run, he said.

The watches can cost as much as $300.

"They're pretty pricey, so they're not for everyone," he said. "For the people who value that type of information, they're a great tool to see how far you've progressed from week to week."

A less expensive option is the Nike Plus program, which synchronizes iPods to a small chip placed in a sneaker. The chip tracks distance, pace, time and calories burned. Fraioli said it's less accurate than a GPS unit, but more affordable, retailing at around $40.

Another way to track a runner's pace is to transform a temporary tattoo, called Pace Tat, onto the forearm. It allows runners to stay on track and finish a marathon at a goal time. The tattoo lists every mile for marathon finishing times from three to five hours.

Page 2 of 2 - The temporary tattoos sell on PaceTat.com for $3.

In addition to her watch, Bett will rely on the energy supplement, Sports Beans, to fuel her toward the finish line tomorrow .

Bett, 44, carries a handful of the energizing jelly beans on a fuel belt with some small bottles of water.

The beans boost energy and "are easier to eat and digest than a power bar," said Bett, who ran in the Marine Corps Marathon about a decade ago.

"There's a lot of variety out there, it's hard to figure out what's the best one," she said. "You have to experiment."

Brooke Hagenbuch, 20, of Westborough, also depends on the "endurance beans," which contain electrolytes, carbohydrates and vitamins B and C.

"I eat them to give me energy and refuel my body," said Hagenbuch, who is running her first Marathon. "They're great for my long runs, like 16 miles or more."

Medway High School senior Amy Tortorello relies on sports gels, such as Gu.

"I think they give me more energy," said Tortorello, 18. "You can tell they give you a bit of a boost, I don't know if it's just mental, but it helps me."

Tortorello said she slurps an orange or chocolate flavored packet, which contains 20 milligrams of caffeine, before a run and then again one hour into the workout.

Fraioli said Gu is so popular at the running store, many customers buy the energy supplement by the case.

"It's great because it keeps you warm and also pulls the sweat away from the body," she said.

Hagenbuch has trained in Adidas' Supernova track pants. The material is made with breathable material and also helps with muscle support, according to the sports company's Web site.

"Running in cotton is bad. It absorbs all of your sweat and becomes heavy. (The Adidas Supernova line) is light and lets your skin breathe," Hagenbuch said. "I have a whole outfit, and I'm planning to wear it for Marathon day."

While training for the Marathon with his niece, Erika Dibona, Scandone wears the popular sports performance apparel Under Armour.

"It's the best there is," he said.

Michelle Laczkoski can be reached at mlaczkos@cnc.com or 508-634-7556.